newman's own foundation, the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, and union bank. >> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> and now "bbc world news." >> answered the call of history. president obama urges nations to put aside cynicism and support the relaunched middle east peace talks. >> now is the time for trust.

now is the time for substantial progress to be made. >> the french rage of old age. hundreds of thousands take to the streets to protest the new pension plans. be gains in crisis. -- that games in crisis. welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america, also around the globe. my name is mike embley. coming up later for you -- bumper harvest and bumper profits. how speculators are reaping the rewards of food security fears. and a hell of a holiday or a holiday in held? we look at tourism in iraq. -- and hell of a holiday or a holiday in hell? we look at tourism in iraq. hello to you. he is an ambitious projections

for any observer of middle eastern politics. president obama has suggested that next year the general assembly will be welcoming and new member, an independent palestinian state. he urged nations to beside cynicism. he also told iran that the doors to nuclear diplomacy are still open. we have this from mark mardell, and it contains some flash photography. >> president obama looks like a man in a hurry. >> the teachings of tolerance -- >> he said the pessimists and cynics would predict failure and people should reach for the best within themselves. he made a bold prediction. >> if we do, we can have an agreement that will lead to any member of the united nations. an independent, sovereign state

of palestine living in peace with israel. >> at the israeli delegation, observing a religious holiday, were not there. the president of the palestinian authority did urge his allies to live up to their promises. outside, there have been protests against the iranian president and posters on at bus stops. the president wants to show them -- iran is not the building of their weapons. >> the doors to diplomacy are still open. but iran must confirm to the world the peaceful intent of its nuclear program. >> if you are expecting and if "or else," that is not surprising. usually president obama does it mention sanctions. today he did not, and that may

be a softening of the line. there was a walkout, after president ahmadinejad indicated that american may have been behind 9/11. >> they want to pressure iran into a dialogue. first thing coming iran has already been in a dialogue. secondly, be an american -- the american way of disrespecting nations has long become ineffective. >> mark mardell, bbc news, new york. >> the colombian army has said it has killed the military leader of the farc rebel mono jojoy group is believed to have died in an air raid along with 20 other insurgents. it is said he commanded 20,000.

a scientist whose -- scientist whose case attracted support in pakistan has been sentenced to 86 years in jail. she was convicted of trying to kill her american interrogators in afghanistan. she is described as an al-qaeda sympathizer. floods have now killed 54 and left 42 missing in southern china. this province had the heaviest rains in a century. the typhoon moved slowly westward. thousands have been evacuate. widespread strikes in france as most schools and transport are in chaos. public-sector workers are protesting the rise in the age at which they can retire. christian fraser reports now

from paris. >> another grim day for french commuters. have the local and national rail services were canceled this morning. there was chaos at international airports. in paris, medium flights were grounded as air-traffic controllers walked out. some 200 flights to and from the uk were canceled. about the only guaranteed method of travel for those who reached paris was the freed bike service. as it stands, french persons can retire at 60. although they are not entitled to add full pension until they are 65. it's been reform bill is adopted, the retirement age will rise to 62 in the pension

age to 67. there is within france of a growing sense of social injustice. among those demonstrating, middle-class voters, professionals, doctors, and teachers, who are concerned that the reform will hit not only their job, but their retirement. this could be damaging not only to the economy, but also to the president with a record low approval rating. >> the government is forcing us into a showdown. the only thing that can make as budget is a showdown. >> that showdown may force the government into further concessions, perhaps of face saver for the unions. two-thirds of the country are for reforms already approved by

the house. it is president sarkozy who has the open hand. -- the upper hand. startednd's economy has to shrink again, despite coming out of recession earlier this year. gdp was down by 1.2% on the first quarter of the year. that contrasts with predictions it would have a small increase. the controversial diabetes drug avandia has been suspended. it has been linked to increased risk of heart failure. youtube and its owners have won a landmark piracy case brought by a spanish tv channel. each channel said its rights and violated when its videos were broadcast on youtube. the court found it was the copyright holder's

responsibility to report the contents to youtube. the chairman for the international palate -- panel on climate change. it was reported that the panel contained an erroneous claim that glaciers could melt away by 2035. it does look like good cop, bad cop on a global scale. yesterday, russia was claiming almost half a million square kilometers of territory and insisting its national interest would come first. today prime minister putin insisted all disputes could be resolved through negotiation. this is making oil and mineral exploration viable and hugely contention -- contentious. richard galpin reports. >> countries are bracing for

control of this potentially rich -- bracing for control of this potentially rich area. this goes to the north pole. submarines are diving to the seabed. at this conference in moscow, aid to have brought together officials and experts -- aides have brought together officials and experts to talk about cooperation instead of competition. despite russia's aggressive moves in the arctic, the prime minister reinforces the call for dialogue. >> of course, we are serious where our economic interests to meet. i have no doubt our problems can be resolved in the spirit of partnership and dialogue within the framework of international law. >> delegates also heard appeals for collaboration he recollects

the arctic region and other northern parts of russia, the united states, and other countries have become crucial to the future of the world. the development of energy production and transport to the monitoring of climate change will rely on the ice in the ocean for their very survival. >> after all the fine words, russia continues to expand its presence in the arctic. this will tinker helping to open up a new shipping lane to asia. -- this oil tanker helping to open up the new shipping lane to asia. it will be tapping the vast oil reserves thought to lie beneath the arctic sea. russia will use its new energy resources here is a guarantee for future economic development. richard galpin, bbc news,

moscow. >> it was supposed to be a showcase for india, a chance to show off its infrastructure and prove it is of global power. but now it is be shame game -- now it is the shame and game. photos just emerged show dirt, debris, in the unfinished room -- in an unfinished rooms. we have this from chris morris. >> these are photos obtain from the bbc of what some of the accommodations in the athletes' village look like. they are filthy. several teams have now delayed their arrival. on the road leading towards the village, there are last-minute repairs. this is not the image delhi wanted to convey to the world, and for the first time, an apology from the organizers on indian tv. >> i would like to apologize,

not only on my part, but for everybody else connected. this is of failure. >> collective failure perhaps, but there is a feeling that things inside are improving. the government has begun preparations. but not in time for everything to go ahead on schedule. this team will be leaving for delhi tonight, but they will not be going straight to the village. athletes from wales, northern ireland, and other places will be leaving for delhi sent. >> uygur said a few minutes ago as well that we will be going to the camp. -- we just said a few minutes ago as well we will be going to the camp. i think we will be going in a few days. we will be in the village as well. >> still, there is a scramble to

get everything ready in time. >> this is the site of the collapsed bridge the became a symbol of disarray in delhi. over there is the main stadium. i have been an inside. it is looking good. there is fury here that shoddy, arrogant management has meant we too many things have been left to the last moment. -- way too many things have been left to the last moment. some are calling these the same games. >> i think what is more shameful is the response. >> work should have been done. they put in so much money into this. >> the words of this evening from the headquarters of the organizing committee -- the show will go on.

we have seen questions about big sporting events before. but india is leaving no later than most. chris morris, bbc news, delhi. >> stay with us, if you can, and "bbc world news." still to come -- the world's biggest windfarm opens. first though, the u.s. state of virginia is preparing its first execution of a female prisoner in almost 100 years. she has been sentenced to death for arranging the murder of her husband and his son in 2002. >> this is the 41-year-old grandmother who sent hit man to kill her husband and stepson said she could collect a quarter of a million dollars in insurance. now from a jail cell, hours before her execution, she has spoken by phone to a local reporter. >> i just want people to know you can be a good person and

make the wrong choice. if i have to go on and be with jesus, i know that will be the best thing. >> her husband and his son were shot dead in their trailer in rural virginia. it was meant to look like a bungled robbery. she quickly confessed to police that she had left the door open for the killers, who she had met earlier in the supermarket. one of them became her lover as they hatched the murder plot. relatives of the victims have no doubt be punishment fits the crime. >> when you play god, you are taking it upon yourself to write your own future. you get what you deserve. >> but defense lawyers say it is morally wrong she faces execution of the men who pulled the triggers seemed to get a life sentence. that argument was rejected by the virginia governor and the u.s. supreme court.

she is now said to be a deeply religious woman. they released a recording of her singing of gospel hymn. >> ♪ i need a miracle >> teresa lewis is scheduled to die at 9:00 p.m., local time. bbc news. >> the latest headlines for you this hour on "bbc world news." president obama has urged world leaders at the u.n. general assembly to put aside cynicism and support the middle east peace talks. france has ground to a halt for the second time this month. hundreds of thousands of workers are protesting the plans to raise retirement age. it is estimated 40 million people around the world are starving dq high fuel prices. this is made worse by the export

ban on meat in russia. we sent jeremy cooke to colorado where weeds is undoubtedly the cash crop. >> -- where wheat is undoubtably the cash crop. >> they are bringing in the bumper crop and as fast as the green is taken from the prairie, -- the grain is taken from the prairie, it is swallowed up. this colorado farmer knows that drought and wildfires in russia have forced up the value of wheat. now he believes he is looking at pay dirt. the irrigators are rolling with

a promise of profits ahead. >> be at spring or winter wheat, we have a profit where three months ago we left this field fallow because we did not have the rotations you plant the spring thaw wheat. >> with the russian export ban taking a huge amount of wheat out of the market, it is up to other countries like america to make up the shortfall. this is not just supply and demand. the prices are not set here in the fields of colorado, but on the trading floors of the global exchanges. it is here in chicago where fortunes are set on the future prices of wheat. what happened here affects the prices we all pay for food. the irony is there is plenty

therewheat in giant -- there is plenty of wheat in storage elevators around the world. but uncertainty about future supply and demand continued to attract speculators, looking for a profit. there is an issue. >> people with money look at opportunities, look at wheat, and they say, this is a good buy. we will buy it and hold it. >> does that drive the price of that >> absolutely. -- does that drive the price up? >> absolutely. >> there are warnings that another major disaster could bring serious consequences for the global food supply. jeremy cooke, bbc news, colorado. >> is there a secret the british are obsessed with the weather.

the world's biggest offshore wind farm has opened off the east coast of england. it is the latest step toward the government's target of 15% of renewable resources by 2020. >> it has been called one of the world's most audacious and green energy projects. shimmering of the kent coast, this is the biggest offshore wind farm in the world. the u.k. government is betting that this is the energy of the future. in the next decade, they want 20% of our energy to come from the wind. it is 2.5% at the moment. a big gamble according to critics. >> what i am worried about is the infatuation with wind

power, which is very expensive. there are other renewals that have been starved for resources, and they should be going that route. >> it has been used. it is still used in our country, around europe. it is definitely -- >> the technology does have its problems. no wind, no power. it may seem obvious. it is always -- it is also heavily subsidized, which means everyone's bills will go up. this is just the start. this is the biggest so far, but it is tiny compared to what is coming. bbc news, of the kent coast. >> now for many it will sound more like a holiday in hell rather than an opportunity to get away from it all.

tourism is being promoted in iraq. iraq fought desperately needs the income. " when a holiday there be like? gabriel doubt -- gabriel gatehouse has been finding out. >> this is iraq, but not the iraq we know from our television screens. not the iraq of shock and fall, the daily suicide bombings. in the north, it is separate from baghdad. it is mountainous rather than arid. there are people here if you want to turn this part of kurdistan into a haven for tourism. this is what they hope will deliver the punters. >> left side, left side.

[unintelligible] >> mike crane is a self confessed river rat. he is trying to drum up tourists to spend their holidays in northern iraq. >> looked at us. we are having a great time today. this is an awesome river. why don't you bring your wife and family here? i would. >> actually, this stretch of river is already at destination for a family who would spend quality time together. here is one. these are kurds from kirkuk. they have brought us seriously impressive picnic. >> attracting foreign tourists is an excellent idea according to this man.

>> here we go. >> the catalyst, the man would be broad, -- with de rod, hopes that in the long run ego-tourism could persuade iraqis to be cleaner. >> get the people to enjoy their time on the river. they will think twice about throwing the bottles in, the trash. >> it can certainly be a long time before tourists and in europe and america come flocking to northern iraq. but they are hoping to show the world that the country that has become a byword for conflict has better things to offer. gabriel gatehouse, bbc news, kurdistan. >> we tried so hard to get that name captioned right. he would not believe the effort.

president obama has urged support for the recently relaunched peace talks. shortly after, the american delegation baulked at all during an address by the iranian president. he suggested that the u.s. was implicated in the 911 attacks. american officials described it this remark as abhorrence. much more news anytime you want it online at bbc.com/news. we are on twitter and facebook as well. thank you for being with us. >> funding was made possible by -- the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, newman's own foundation, the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, and union bank.

aand siemens. >> somewhere in america, there's a doctor who can peer into the future. there's a nurse who can access in an instant every patient's past. and because the whole hospital is working together, there's a family who can breathe easy right now. somewhere in america we've already answered some of the nation's toughest health-care questions. and the over 60,000 people of siemens are ready to do it again. siemens. answers. >> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you?

>> i'm julia stiles. >> i'm kevin bacon. >> i'm kim cattrall. >> hi, i'm ken burns. >> i'm lili taylor. >> i'm henry louis gates, jr., and public broadcasting is my source for news about the world. >> for intelligent conversation. >> for election coverage you can count on. >> for conversations beyond the sound bites. >> a commitment to journalism. >> for deciding who to vote for. >> i'm kerry washington, and public broadcasting is my source for intelligent connections to my community. >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los angeles. [glass shatters] >> [hissing] [both screaming] [bat screeches]

>> tom: president obama tells china's leader he's disappointed there hasn't been a bigger move in china's currency.